Self-locking cashbox



Oct. 10,51950 c. F. HARRIS SELF-LOCKING cAsHBox Filed June 5, 1947 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 10, 1950 f "U'NITED STATES TgENT FFCE SELF-Looxmo AsHBOX oharieerxnarria chicago, ni.'- i Applicationfiun 5, 1947, senin No'. 752,758

This invention relates to a cashbox for .useinH l.

cash-box which is simple Yyet rugged in 'construc-` tion.

Yet another object 1ot the invention is to pro vide va cash-box which cannot be withdrawn from its holder in the unlocked' condition.

Still another object .of the inventionis to `pro- `vide a cash-box and holder which is automatically .conditioned for `closing the cash-box upon with--v drawal from the r holder.

These and Iothernbjects will become apparent from a study of this vspecification and the drawings which are attached hereto and are made a part Ahereof and in which:

Figure 1 is `a front elevation of the boxl in the holder.

Figure 2 is a view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l showing the locking mechanisms. Y

Figure 3 is a plan view of the deviceof Figure 1 with parts broken awaytov show the Vvcontrol ratchet and its associated means.

Figure 4 is a plan view ofthe cash-box alone, with parts `broken away to show. the slide latching means.

Figure 5 is `an end view partially in section lof the star-wheel, ratchet and pawl mechanism.

Referring now to Figures :1, 2 and 3 numeral l represents a case of sheet metal having side plates 3, top plate 5 and bottom plate 1. Rear stop members ,S and Ii `and a front or abutment plate I3 are iixed to the side plates in any suitable manner.

A shaft i5 is xed tothe side plates 3 and so held that it is not rotatable about its axis. The sh-aft is provided with a transverse opening Il (Fig. 5) which receives a compression spring i9 and aplug type pawl 2l.

A stop Ineens in theiorm yof 'a star-wheel .23 is rotatably mounted on the shaft andvis formed. with an internal ratchet 25 which cooperates with the ,pawl 2i to prevent rotation .of the starwheel in the clockwise direction, Figure 2, while permitting counterclockwise rotation thereof. The star-wheel is vheld centered in the vshaft I5 by -a pair of collars 21 which `are suitably fixed to the shaft. These collars and theshaft are pref.- erably fastened together so that they cannot be "i: claims. (Olcese-'150 .2 disassembledwithout practicallyl destroying the case. This prevents tampering with them in an effort. to avoid the 4safeguards Aprovided `by the invention.

Abracket 29 is iixed to one side plate 3 to support the end of a check tube 28 which conducts the ,checks to the vcash-box.

The .cash-box proper is indicated by numeral 3i and includes a, bottom 33, two side Walls 35 and a rear wall 3l all fixed together. Y

`A hinge .39.is xed to the front edge of bottom 33 and a door ll is connected thereto. A handle [i3 is connected to the door by means of a bracket i5 and a key operated lock 41 .is fixed in the door and Carries the locking dog 39. Pins 5i., 53 set in the door limit the rotation of the dog. The door has a iia'nge 5!! on the sides and top which nts over the sidesand top of the box.

The top of the box is formed of a flat piece having downturned flanges .5l all around which nt down over the side andrear walls. The top has a rectangular opening .59 formed therein which lies under the coin chute held by bracket v29. YThe .top is suitably attached to the walls of `the box.

.-is, however, only about half as long-as thefto `plateFig. 2).

The slide is provided with an upstanding vactuv.alter 6,5 which is adaptedtoengage `the star-wheel 123 as 4.will be explained. Y

The slide has anabutment 61, fixed to its lower side, which is adapted to be Vengaged by a latch pa-wl .69 which isv pivoted at 'H to a plate .lf3 ywhich vis supported from the lower side of the horizontal legs of the angles 6l.

The plate "i3 is provided lwith a slot 15 Aand the vlatch pawl .69 has an operating arm "Vl bent .downwardly .to pass through the slot. vThe pawl has vteeth i9 which contact the abutment 61.

A spring 8| is fixed in a stud 83 in plate 13 and bears against the pawl -to urge it into engagement against the abutment 61.

The forward edge of the closure may be notched as at to clear the Vend of the check tube.- This notch is covered by the `top of the box when the closure is in the closed position where it is held by tbe latch pawl.

Operation In operation of a system utilizing the cash-box mechanisms herein disclosed, the case I is permanently mounted in the machine and the check tube of the machine is xed in the bracket 29. Several cash-boxes are required for each machine so that the collector or man who services the machine can remove the full box and replace it with an empty one. The primary object of the invention is to insure that the box which is removed is locked closed before it is completely ref moved so that there will be no opportunity for removal of the checks contained therein.

The cash-box, when it is inserted in the case, is normally in the position shown in Figure 2. The slide actuator B5 lies just to the right of the star-wheel 23. Since the star-wheel cannot rotate in a clockwise direction, it will be seen that any attempt to pull the box to the left in Figure 2 will cause the actuator to engage and be stopped by the star-wheel. Further withdrawal of the box will cause the opening 59 to be moved relative to the slide to be closed thereby. As the abutment 6l and latch pawl 69 move relative to each other in this operation, the teeth 19 successively engage the abutment and hold it against return. The second tooth is so positioned that it locks the abutment when the slide reaches the fully closed position.

It will be seen from Figure 5 that the starwheel and ratchet teeth are so positioned with respect to pawl 2| that the star-wheel is stopped with its lower tooth in a Vertical position. Since the actuator 65 reaches approximately to the `radius of the tooth, it is obvious that the cashbox cannot be removed from the case by simply drawing it to the left (Fig. 2). The only way in which the box can be removed is by tilting it in a clockwise direction about the lower right corner edge A (Fig. 2).

When the actuator 65 occupies the slide open position, the distance from the top of the actuator or point of contact between the actuator and the star wheel to the forward corner edge A is greater than the vertical distance from the root of the tooth or said point of contact to the bottom 1 of the case. Therefore, the box cannot be pivoted far enough about the line of contact of the star-wheel with the actuator to allow corner A to pass under the pivoted axis.

As the slide is moved toward its closed position the distance from the top of the actuator to the corner edge A is decreased. After the slide is fully closed and latched, this distance has been reduced to a distance equal to or slightly less than the vertical distance from the root of the tooth to the base 'l so that the box can be pivoted about the actuator and the corner edge A will pass under the pivotal axis. Further pivotal motion thereafter unhooks the actuator from the interposed tooth of the star-wheel and the locked cash-box will be free.

A second box which has the slide disposed in the 4open position (Fig. 2) is then inserted in the case by simply sliding it to the right thereon. The actuator engages a tooth of the star-wheel; the star-wheel rotates in a counterclockwise direction and passes the actuator to the Figure 2 position in the same way that a gear passes a rack tooth.

The same process as described above must be followed to remove the cash-box once the actuator passes the star-wheel.

The locked box is returned to the auditor or other official who opens the door` 4l by a key 4 fitting lock 41 and removes the checks. He then engages the bent end 11 of latch pawl 69 and rotates it counterclockwise (Fig. 4) against the action of spring 8| to release abutment 61. The

slide is now pushed back to the open position whereit is frictionally held by the engagement of the side of abutment 6T by pawl 69. The door 4I is closed and relocked and the box is ready for reinsertion in a machine.

It is to be noted that the ange 50 on the door overlies the top and sides of the box to prevent the loss of any coins and also to reduce the opportunity for the effective insertion of a prying tool to force the dog 49.

The word check is used throughout this speciication as a generic term to cover, for example, tokens, coins, tickets, or any'other collectable device which may be used to indicate that the depositor is entitled to some product or service in exchange therefor.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the form, structure and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, applicant does not desire to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed herein primarily for purposes of illustration; but instead, he desires protection falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a check collecting apparatus, a case open at one side and having a oor, a box having a bottom, a front wall joining the bottom in a front corner edge and a top substantially parallel to the bottom, said box resting on said floor and being inserted, front Wall foremost, in and withdrawn from the case through the side opening, a coin opening in said top, a door mounted for movement toward and from the front wall to close and uncover the coin opening, means on the box and door for latchingthe door closed, an actuator on the door projecting above said top and movable in a predetermined path as said box is inserted in and withdrawn from the case, stop means mounted in the case in the path of said actuator, means mounting said stop means for movement out of the path of the actuator when the box is inserted, means for preventing movement of the stop means out of the path of the actuator when the box is moved to withdraw it, said actuator being positioned near the front wall when the door is closed, the 'distance from the point of contact of the stop means and actuator and the front corner edge being greater than the shortest distance from said point of contact to said floor when the door is open but being substantially equal to or less than said shortest distance when the door is closed so that the actuator may be unhooked from the stop means by tilting the box about said point of contact only when the door is closed.

2. In a check collecting apparatus, a case open at one side and having a floor, a box having a bottom, a front wall joining the bottom in a front corner edge and a top substantially parallel to the bottom, said box resting on said oor and being inserted, front wall foremost, in and withdrawn from the case through the Side opening, a coin opening in said top, a. door mounted for movement toward and from the front wall to close and uncover the coin opening, means on the box and door for latching the door closed, an actuator on the door projecting above said top and movable in a predetermined path as said bOX is inserted in and withdrawn from the case,

stop means mounted in the case comprising a star Wheel having a tooth disposed in the path of said actuator, means mounting said star Wheel for movement to Withdraw said tooth out of the path of the actuator and to position a second tooth in said path when the box is inserted, means including a paWl and ratchet for preventing movement of said second tooth out of the path of the actuator when the box is moved to Withdraw it, said actuator being positioned near the front Wall when the door is closed, the distance from the point of Contact of the second tooth and actuator and the front vcorner edge being greater than the shortest distance from said point of contact to said floor When the door is open but being substantially equal to or less than said shortest distance when the door is closed so that the actuator may be unhooked from the stop means by tilting the box about said point of contact only when the door is closed.

3. In a check collecting apparatus, a case open at one side and having a floor, a box having a bottom, a front Wall joining the bottom in a front corner edge and a top substantially parallel to the bottom, an access opening in the box, a cover therefor, said box resting on said oor and being inserted, front Wall foremost, in and withdrawn from the case through the side opening, a coin opening in said top, a door mounted for movement toward and from the front wall to close and uncover the coin opening, means on the box and door for latching'the door closed, means accessible from the interior of the box, through said access opening, for unlatching the latching means, an actuator on the door projecting above said top and movable in a, predebeing positioned near the front Wall when theY door is closed, the distance from the point of contact of the stop means and actuator and the front corner edge being greater than the shortest distance from said point of contact to said floor' when the door is open but being substantially equal to or less than said shortest distance when the door is closed so that the actuator maybe unhooked from the stop means by tilting the box about said point of contactonly when the door is closed. v

4. In a check collecting apparatus, a case open at one side and having a floor, a box having a bottom, a front Wall joining the bottom in a front corner edge and a top substantially parallel to the bottom, an access Opening in the box, a cover therefor, said box resting on said floor and being inserted, front Wall foremost, in and Withdrawn from the case through the side opening, a coin opening in said top, a door mounted for movement toward and from the front wall to close and uncover the coin opening, means on the box and door for latching the door closed, means accessible from the interior of the box, through said access opening, for unlatching the latching means, an actuator on the door projecting above said top and movable in a predetermined path as said box is inserted in and withdrawn from the case, stop means mounted in the case comprising a star Wheel having a tooth disposed in the path of said actuator, means mounting said star Wheel for movement to Withdraw said tooth out of the path of the actuator and to position a second tooth inr said path when the box is inserted, means including a pawl and ratchet for preventing movement of said second tooth out of the path of the actuator When the box is moved to withdraw it, said actuator being positioned near the front Wallwhen the door is closed, the distance from the point of contact of the second tooth and actuator and the front corner edge being greater than the shortest distance from said point of contact to said iioor when the door is open but being substantially equal to or less than said shortest distance when the door is closed so that the actuator may be unhooked from the stop means by tilting the box about said point oi contact only when the door is closed. l

CHARLES F. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The follovving references are of record in the lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

